Adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism

ABSTRACT

An adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle. The cartridge chambering mechanism provides a lifting arm and the lifting arm provides an adjustment screw which adjustably speeds up the operation of the cartridge chambering mechanism by adjustably shortening the arc length of the required lever action.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is of an adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle. The lever action of a lever action rifle powers the cartridge chambering mechanism, the shell casing ejection mechanism, and the cocking of the trigger mechanism. The instant invention speeds up the operation of the cartridge chambering mechanism by adjustably shortening the arc length of the required lever action as will be seen hereafter in detail.

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related generally to the field of cartridge chambering mechanisms. It is well understood that a firearm fires a cartridge which has been loaded into a firing chamber. A lever action rifle utilizes a lever action powered cartridge loading mechanism to load a cartridge into the rifle's firing chamber.

The instant invention is of an improvement to the lever action cartridge loading mechanism of a lever action rifle.

Accordingly, and more particularly, the instant invention is related to improvements or modifications to the lever action cartridge loading mechanism of a lever action rifle that aid, assist, or permit the smooth and rapid chambering of a cartridge into the firing chamber of the rifle.

Yet more particularly, the instant invention is related to lever action cartridge loading mechanisms that shorten the throw of the lever necessary to accomplish the action of loading a cartridge into the firing chamber of a lever action rifle.

Yet more particularly, the instant invention is related to methods of adjusting the length of the arc of the lever necessary to accomplish the action of loading a cartridge into the firing chamber of a lever action rifle.

Yet more particularly, the instant invention is related to methods of adjustably shortening the length of the arc of the lever necessary to accomplish the action of loading a cartridge into the firing chamber of a lever action rifle.

Even yet more particularly, and finally, the instant invention is related devices that speed up the chambering action for lever action rifles, permitting the quick and smooth loading of successive cartridges into the firing chamber for sequential fire.

b. Description of the Prior Art

There are known to be numerous devices and apparatus for the lessening of the resistance to triggering the firing mechanism of a cartridge firing firearm. There are additionally known to be numerous devices and apparatus that accomplish the shortening of the trigger pull length, thereby shortening the time necessary for activating or pulling the trigger of a cartridge firing mechanism and thereby quickening the firing of the cartridge in the firing chamber.

Numerous devices and methods have been devised and exist to make adjustable the pressure necessarily applied to the trigger of a cartridge firing mechanism of a firearm. Likewise, numerous devices and methods have been devised and exist to make adjustable the length of travel of the firing pin or other mechanical link in the cartridge firing mechanism of a firearm. Thereby, there are numerous devices and methods which have been devised and exist to make adjustable the resistance to trigger pull, the length of travel necessary for the trigger pull, and the time required to activate the trigger of the cartridge firing mechanism of a firearm.

Devices and methods to make adjustable the resistance to trigger pull and the length of travel necessary for the trigger pull, and thereby the time required to activate the trigger of the cartridge firing mechanism of a firearm which are related to the instant invention and are known to applicant include those taught by the following patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,005 Trigger Mechanism, Arnold W. Jewell, teaches the use of a screw to adjust trigger pull forces and can be adjusted externally. This invention modifies the trigger release mechanism and apparently has no effect on the cartridge chambering mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 906,419 Trigger Mechanism, Eugene F. Hedrick, teaches the use of a screw to adjust trigger pull forces and the use of a screw to adjust the lever action trigger cocking stroke length. This invention modifies the trigger release mechanism and the trigger cocking mechanism and apparently has no effect on the cartridge chambering mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,951 Trigger Mechanism for Firearms, Homer E. Koon, Jr., teaches the use of a screw to adjust trigger pull distance. This invention modifies the trigger release mechanism and apparently has no effect on the cartridge chambering mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,668 Firing Mechanism for Firearm, Gerald Joseph Frazier, teaches the use of a screw to allow variation of the pressure required to fire the weapon. This invention modifies the length of the trigger pull in the trigger release mechanism and apparently has no effect on the cartridge chambering mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,301 Trigger Mechanism for Sporting Guns, Alexandr Sergeevich Shesterikov, teaches adjustment screws that allow variation of the pressure required to fire the weapon. This invention modifies the length of the trigger pull in the trigger release mechanism and the pressure that must be applied to the trigger in order to release the firing mechanism and apparently has no effect on the cartridge chambering mechanism.

However, applicant has discovered no prior art addressing the adjustment of the required length of travel of the lever to operate the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle or firearm, the adjustment of the resistance to travel of the lever required to operate the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle or firearm, or the adjustment of the speed at which the lever powering the cartridge loading mechanism of a lever action rifle or firearm travels.

Accordingly, it is seen that the prior art of lever action powered cartridge chambering mechanisms is deficient in that such mechanisms are not adjustable, not capable of having the lever stroke shortened, and not capable of having the time necessary for the chambering mechanism to operate shortened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is of an adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle. The lever action of a lever action rifle powers the cartridge chambering mechanism, the shell casing ejection mechanism, and the cocking of the trigger mechanism. The instant invention speeds up the operation of the cartridge chambering mechanism by adjustably shortening the arc length of the required lever action as will be seen hereafter in detail.

There is no known prior art providing an adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle.

The primary deficiency in the prior art addressed by the instant invention is to provide an adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a lever action cartridge chambering mechanism that is adjustable.

Accordingly, it is another object of the instant invention to provide a lever action cartridge chambering mechanism that is capable of having the lever stroke shortened.

Accordingly, it is yet another and final object of the instant invention to provide a lever action cartridge chambering mechanism that is capable of having the time necessary for the chambering mechanism to operate shortened.

DESCRIPTION OF NUMERIC REFERENCES

-   5. Forearm Stock

-   10. Forearm Connection Band

-   15. Action Housing

-   20. Hammer

-   25. Shoulder Stock Connection Plate

-   30. Shoulder Stock Connection Band

-   35. Shoulder Stock

-   40. Lever

-   45. Trigger

-   50. Chambering Ram or Breechblock

-   55. Breech Block Connection Arm

-   60. Radial Arm

-   65. Notched lever extension member

-   70. Pivotal Connection Member

-   75. Flat Lever Spring

-   80. Lifting Arm

-   85. Adjustment Screw Head

-   86. Adjustment Screw Threads

-   87. Threaded Aperture

-   

-   88. Circular Aperture

-   89. Head of Lifting Arm

-   90. Body of Lifting Arm

-   91. Tail of Lifting Arm

-   92. Cammed End of Extended Arm Portion of Lifting Arm

-   93. Extended Tail Portion of Lifting Arm

-   94. Lower surface of Lifting Arm Tail

-   95. Indention in Upper Surface of Head of Lifting Arm

-   100. Rod or pin

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the novel features of the instant invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, a full and complete understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is set forth subsequently, and which is as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical plane view of the action housing, including only those portions of the action comprising the cartridge chambering mechanism, of a lever action rifle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lifting arm of the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle.

FIG. 3 is a vertical plane view of the lifting arm of the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal plane view, partially in perspective, of the lifting arm of the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal plane view, partially in perspective, of the lifting arm of the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle depicting the tap for insertion of the adjustment screw.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal plane view, partially in perspective, of the lifting arm of the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle with the adjustment screw inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The lever in a lever-action rifle powers a) the action of the cartridge ejection mechanism to eject spent casings, b) the cartridge loading mechanism to load a fresh cartridge into the firing chamber, c) a firing pin cocking mechanism, and d) a firing pin release or triggering mechanism. Correspondingly, it is seen that a lever action rifle provides a) a cartridge or casing ejection mechanism, b) a cartridge loading mechanism, c) a firing pin cocking mechanism, and d) a firing pin triggering mechanism. The instant invention is of an adjustable cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle. The lever action of a lever action rifle powers the cartridge chambering mechanism, the shell or casing ejection mechanism, and the cocking of the trigger mechanism. The instant invention speeds up the operation of the cartridge chambering mechanism by adjustably shortening the arc length of the required lever action as will be seen hereafter in detail. By modern definition and as used herein, a cartridge or round packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case, or casing or shell, precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm.

A lever action rifle is one utilizing the method of opening the breech of a rifle by the use of a lever which lies below the butt of the rifle and usually extends to form an extension of the trigger guard into which the remaining fingers of the firing hand are placed. The action of a firearm is the totality of the moving parts of the firearm that accomplish the loading of a cartridge, the firing of the bullet, the unloading and ejection of the spent casing. A lever action rifle is a rifle wherein the lever provides the mechanical force to operate the rifle's action. In operation, the rifle's bolt is opened as the lever is pushed in a sweeping arc, forward, downward and away from the rifle butt. Opening the rifle's bolt moves it toward the rear of the rifle butt. As the bolt moves to the rear, it cocks the trigger mechanism. A loading ramp below the bolt swings down and collects a cartridge from a tubular magazine underneath the barrel (though box magazines are sometimes found, as on Browning's Winchester® 1895 rifle). As the lever is brought back and up flush to the bottom of the rifle butt, the loading ramp is cammed upward to align the cartridge with the bolt. The bolt, including the chambering ram or breechblock, then pushes the cartridge into the firing chamber, and the camming action of the lever locks the bolt closed. A round can then be fired. As the lever is actuated to load a new cartridge, the spent cartridge case is extracted and ejected through the top of the rifle.

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings depicts the action housing 15, including only those portions of the action comprising the cartridge chambering mechanism, of a lever action rifle. Also depicted in FIG. 1 are the forearm stock 5, the forearm connection band 10, the hammer 20, the shoulder stock connection plate 25, the shoulder stock connection band 30, the shoulder stock 35, the lever 40, and the trigger 45.

By reference to FIG. 1, the components of a lever action cartridge chambering mechanism located within the action housing 15 are the rear portion of the chambering ram or breech block 50, the breech block connection arm 55, the radial arm 60, the notched lever extension member 65, the notched upper portion of the lever 40, the flat lever spring 75, and the lifting arm 80. Additionally, the new element of an adjustment screw, depicted and referenced as the adjustment screw head 85 and the adjustment screw threads 86 (referenced on FIG. 2), is to be considered a portion of the chambering mechanism of the instant invention.

Mechanical modification of the lifting arm 80 portion of the cartridge chambering mechanism of a lever action rifle permits limitation of the arc of the lever 40 when actuated by the user, shortening the time necessary for the chambering of a round. The lifting arm 80 is depicted in FIGS. 2 through 6 of the accompanying drawings. Each of the various views, FIGS. 2 through 6, are intended to emphasize a feature of the lifting arm 80. FIG. 2 depicts the adjustable screw, referenced by its screw head 85 and its screw threads 86, of the instant invention inserted. Also clearly depicted in FIG. 2 is the aperture 88 in the head 89 of the lifting arm 80. FIG. 3 provides a clear depiction of the cammed end 91 of the tail 93 of the lifting arm 80. FIG. 4 provides a depiction of the offset of the long axis of the head 89 from the long axis of the tail 93 of the lifting arm 80, as well as depicting the pin 100 inserted through the aperture 88 in the head 89. FIG. 5 depicts the relative placement of the aperture 87 through the body 90 of the lifting arm 80 into which the adjustable screw, referenced by its screw head 85 and its screw threads 86 in other Figs., is inserted. FIG. 6 depicts the adjustable screw, referenced by its screw head 85, inserted into the body 90 of the lifting arm 80.

FIG. 2 is a detail of the lifting arm 80 which has been drilled, tapped, and had the adjustment screw, referenced by its screw head 85 and its screw threads 86, of the instant invention inserted. As seen in FIG. 2, the lifting arm 80 provides a body 90, a head 89, and a tail 91. The body 90 is machined into a block shape. The head 89 provides an indented upper surface 95, together with a drilled circular aperture 88. The tail 91 of the lifting arm 80 provides an extended arm portion 93 together with a cammed end 92.

Physically, the lifting arm 80 is attached to the notched upper portion of the lever 40 by a rod or pin 100 through the aperture 88, as depicted in FIG. 4, each end of the rod or pin 100 is attached to an interior portion of the notched upper portion of the lever 40, the lower surface of the lifting arm body 90 rides on the interior surface of the lower portion of the action housing 15, and the cammed end 92 of the lifting arm tail 91 acts to provide power to the cartridge carrier, causing the cartridge carrier, not depicted, to lift a cartridge from the magazine so that the bullet tip is positioned at the entrance to the breech. The chambering ram 50 then moves forward to seat the cartridge in the firing chamber. Not depicted are the cartridge carrier, members of the cartridge or casing ejection mechanism, the firing pin cocking mechanism, and the firing pin triggering mechanism.

In operation, by reference to FIG. 1, as the lever 40 is swung downwardly away from the bottom of the shoulder stock 35, the movement is resisted by the flat lever spring 75, and the notched upper portion of the lever 40 rotates toward the right. This action causes the movement of the lower end of the notched lever extension member 65 toward the right, lowering the pivotal connection member 70 of the notched lever extension member 65, the breechblock connection arm 55 and the radial arm 60. The lowering of the pivotal connection member 70, by connection of breechblock connection arm 55 between the pivotal connection member 70 and the rear portion of the breechblock 50, causes the retraction of the chambering ram 50 from the breech of the firearm depicted in FIG. 1. The movement of the lower end of the notched lever extension member 65 toward the right is caused by the interaction of the interlocking notches in the lower end of the notched lever extension member 65 and in the upper portion of the lever 40. Because the radial arm 60 is pivotally connected to the action housing 15, the pivotal connection member 70 rotates in an arc downwardly. As the lever 40 is swung downwardly away from the bottom of the shoulder stock 35, the rightward movement of the notched upper portion of the lever 40 also causes rightward movement of the lifting arm 80. The action is the totality of the moving parts of a firearm that allow loading of a cartridge, firing, unloading and the ejection of the spent casing.

The lifting arm body 90, see FIGS. 2-6, moves along the interior surface of the bottom of the action housing 15 as it is pulled rightward by the movement of the notched upper portion of the lever 40. Note that the adjustment screw threads 86 extend through the lifting arm body 90 and extend into the space between the lifting arm body 90 and the lower portion of the action housing 15. The presence of the adjustment screw threads 86 raises the lifting arm body 90 above the interior surface of the lower portion of the action housing 15. Also note that the adjustment screw threads 86 extend above the lifting arm body 90 so that the lifting arm adjustment screw head 85 is flush with the lateral edge of the notched lever extension member 65. In application, the lifting arm adjustment screw head 85 is machined flat on the side of the lifting arm adjustment screw head 85 that is flush with the notched lever extension member 65 so that no lateral forces are asserted by the lifting arm adjustment screw head 85 on the notched lever extension member 65 when in its rest position. Such lateral forces on the notched lever extension member 65 when in its rest position would interfere with the operation of the action and could, under some circumstances, interfere with proper seating of the breechblock 50. Raising the lifting arm body 90 above the interior surface of the lower portion of the action housing 15 tends to linearize the lateral motion of the lifting arm body 90 as it is powered by the arced motion of the notched upper portion of the lever arm 40. This linearization of the path of the lateral movement of the lifting arm body 90 speeds up the operation of the cartridge carrier which is powered by the lifting arm cammed end 92. Thus, a lesser arced motion of the notched upper end of the lever 40 is required to accomplish the chambering of a cartridge. This lesser arced motion translates to a shorter lever 40 arm motion being applied by the operator of the firearm and to a speedier operation of the firearm's action. A straight line lateral movement of the lifting arm body 90 would be optimal, but by raising the lifting arm body 90 above the interior surface of the lower portion of the action housing 15 the lateral movement is altered from a cosign function of the downward curved interior surface of the lower portion of the action housing 15 to a cosign function of a traversed arc that extends equally above and below the straight line path of a purely lateral motion thereby producing greater lateral motion per portion of the arc defined and traversed by the motion of the path of the notched upper portion of the lever 40. A quicker action operation is thus produced by a shorter lever 40 arc traversal and the action of operating the lever 40 is thus speeded up.

Additionally, the height of the screw threads 86 and the screw head 85 above the lifting arm body 90 becomes, as the lever 40 is operated and the notched upper portion of the lever arm 40 traces its arced path around the pivotal connection of the lever 40 to the action housing 15, a limit on or stop to the rightward movement of the notched lever extension member 65 and thus on the rightward movement of the notched upper portion of the lever arm 40. This limit on the rightward movement of the notched upper portion of the lever arm 40 acts to shorten the necessary operating movement of the lever 40. Necessarily, this limit must be carefully asserted so as not to shorten the lever 40 action beneath that length of stroke required to operate the firearm's action. But, valuably, the excess motion of the lever 40 beyond that needed to operate the firearm's action can be removed which will in many cases substantially reduce the length of the arc of motion necessarily applied to the handle portion of the lever 40 to chamber a new round. Removal of the excess motion from the lever 40 action reduces the time required to operate the chambering mechanism.

So, in summary as the lever 40 of a rifle equipped with the adjustment screw, identified in the drawings by reference to the screw head 85 and to the screw threads 86, of the instant invention is operated the lever 40 is moved in an arcing path downward away from the shoulder stock 35 of the rifle. The arcing path downward away from the shoulder stock causes the notched upper portion of the lever 40 to move in a rightward direction due to the pivotal connection of the lever 40 to the action housing 15. The rightward movement of the notched upper portion of the lever 40 causes a rightward movement of the lifting arm 80 due to the pivotal connection of the lifting arm 80 to the lever 40. The pivotal connection of the lifting arm 80 to the lever 40 is accomplished by a pin 100, depicted in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, which is inserted into a circular depression interior to the notched upper portion of the lever 40 and inserted through the aperture 88 through the head 89 of the lifting arm 80. The rightward motion of the lifting arm 80 powers a cartridge carrier which acts to lift a cartridge from the magazine so that the tip of the cartridge is aligned with the inlet to the firing chamber. The closing motion of the lever 40 operation wherein the lever 40 is brought back into position adjacent the shoulder stock 35 of the rifle powers the chambering ram 50, locks the chambering ram 50 into position locking the breech, and cocks the firing mechanism. Whereby the adjustment screw, depicted and referenced as the adjustment screw head 85 and the adjustment screw threads 86 (referenced on FIG. 2), of the instant invention has provided an improvement in the operating speed of the cartridge chambering mechanism and a shortened path for the lever 40 operation.

While the preferred embodiments of the instant invention have been described in substantial detail and fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that numerous variations of the instant invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention, and accordingly the instant invention is to be limited only by the following claims. 

1. An adjustable screw inserted into the body of the lifting arm of a cartridge chambering mechanism for a lever action rifle, wherein the head of said adjustable screw provides a stop to the cocking motion of said lever.
 2. The adjustable screw of claim 1 wherein said adjustable screw is inserted through said body of the lifting arm and wherein that portion of the threads of said adjustable screw extending below said body of the lifting arm serves to raise said body of the lifting arm above the interior surface of the action housing of said rifle.
 3. A lever powered cartridge chambering mechanism for a firearm wherein said cartridge chambering system provides an adjustable stop for the cocking motion of said lever.
 4. The lever powered cartridge chambering mechanism of claim 3 wherein said cartridge chambering system provides an adjustable increase in the height of said cartridge chambering system's lifting arm above said firearm's action housing.
 5. The lever powered cartridge chambering mechanism of claim 3 wherein said cartridge chambering mechanism provides a lifting arm and wherein said lifting arm provides means for adjustably shortening said lever's operating arc length. 